The evolution of gaming is about to enter a new era driven by emerging technology. Anyone with even a passing interest in the latest tech will be aware of terminologies such as the Metaverse, web 3.0, and virtual reality. And they will be equally aware of how the big players are scrambling to be involved, as The Guardian reports. But what impact will this new trend have on the world of gaming? We take a look at how the latest technology is already being implemented in games today.
Virtual progress
Virtual reality (VR) has actually been with us for some time. Yet its previous limitations and practicalities of implementation held it back from breaking through in the way people were predicting a few years ago. That looks all set to change as VR technology has finally risen to the demands of the modern gamer. Through the evolution of gaming, two elements have been the main key drivers: gameplay and realism. Early VR did not enhance either but now has the capability to do so. And it also brings a third factor into the equation: immersion.
A more immersive experience
Games like Subnautica, which already offer a tense experience are enhanced even further by its VR modification. The game becomes even more immersive and the whole atmosphere is changed. Players are drawn into the action in a way that was not possible before. The Subnautica VR experience has been described as “beautiful, terrifying, and mesmerizing” as players fight for survival beneath the depths of an alien ocean. Suddenly, the full potential of VR gaming and the Metaverse is starting to be revealed. The challenge now is to fully overcome some of the integration issues that have affected VR game conversions in the past.
Get ready to brave the cold! ⛄ Subnautica: Below Zero launches May 14th and is now available to pre-order on all digital storefronts. Check out the cinematic trailer and pick up your copy today! ▶️ https://t.co/Nm5rVfts0v pic.twitter.com/eS14clSmVA
— Subnautica (@Subnautica) April 13, 2021
Immersion will be the key factor in all forms of online gaming in the next few years. This is already clear in the iGaming sector where live casinos have transformed the experience of traditional online games like blackjack and roulette. Sites like the licensed New Jersey casino PlayStar use live dealers who interact with players to create a gaming experience that is more similar to the one found in a real-world casino. This creates a more immersive experience and gives us an idea of how VR could be used in the online casino world, by transporting players into a virtual casino where they can interact with the avatars of other players and dealers.
Game-changers
There are a few games worth checking out that already take full advantage of the immersive VR experience. First up is Arizona Sunshine, which transports you to a zombie-inhabited Wild West scenario. The game is long enough to pose a real challenge and steers away from the arcade format of other VR titles.
PS4 players should check out Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, which combines the platform gaming experience with VR to create a game like nothing else on the market. The game draws inspiration from the Mario series but manages to be completely original in the way it uses VR elements to surprise the player at every turn.
Finally, Beat Saber takes the dance game genre and gives it a science-fiction twist, Players must wield a light saber and cut through obstacles to the beat of a tune. It’s a great concept, which works well in the VR environment. All this in combination with the emergence of the Metaverse, an internet-based virtual world, means we are heading into a new immersive world of gaming where the possibilities are endless.
